The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Body art has become so popular in the past few years that itÕs hard to walk down the street, go shopping, or watch TV without seeing someone with a piercing or a tattoo. You probably know someone Ð a family member, friend or co-worker who has a tattoo or body piercing. Perhaps you thought their tattoo or piercing looks cool and youÕve thought about getting one. But is body piercing and tattooing safe? Are they a good idea? And what should you be aware of if you do decide to get one? Body art such as tattooing and body piercing that involves needles, blood and puncturing of the skin involves risk. It is possible to contract HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C through a piercing or tattoo if a shop does not follow proper safety precautions. Hepatitis B is a type of liver disease caused by the Hepatitis B virus. Many people who become infected with Hepatitis B never feel sick and recover completely. Others get a brief illness with fatigue and loss of appetite and their skin and eyes turn yellow (a condition called ÒjaundiceÓ). Hepatitis C is the liver disease caused by the Hepatitis C virus. Chronic Hepatitis C can lead to liver cancer or liver failure. The danger with Hepatitis C is that most people have no symptoms and feel well for many years. Symptoms can take anywhere from 10-25 years to show up. Individuals who pick up the virus from body piercing or tattooing may not realize they are sitting on an infectious time bomb until the disease strikes. In order to make your tattooing or body piercing experience a safe one, follow these safety guidelines: Make sure you are up to date with your immunizations, especially hepatitis and tetanus. Plan where you will get medical care if your piercing or tattoo becomes infected. Signs of infection include pain, spreading redness, swelling or drainage of pus. Make sure the shop is clean and carpet free. Make sure the artist washes his or her hands with germicidal soap. Make sure that tattoo or piercing artist wears fresh disposable gloves. Make sure the artist uses and opens up single-use disposable needle or opens a package of sterilized needles in front of you. Make sure the tattoo studio has an autoclave (a device that uses steam, pressure and heat for sterilization). Make sure the person doing the piercing does not use a piercing gun. They cannot be sterilized properly. Make sure any blood is removed by a sterile, disposable cloth or towel. For tattoos, fresh ink should be used for each person. The ink should be poured into a disposable cup and discarded after each use. Make sure the ink they are using is new. Make sure there are procedures for the proper handling and disposal of waste (like needles or disposable cloths or gauze.) If the studio looks unclean or if anything looks out of the ordinary, or if you feel in any way uncomfortable, find a better place for your piercing or tattoo. Remember, with any studio Ð you have the right to ask questions. Body piercing and tattoos can change your look, donÕt let it change your life! Only a blood test can detect the Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C virus. If you think you have been exposed, you should see your physician or health care professional to see if you should be tested. For more information on safer tattooing or body piercing, hepatitis, or testing/immunizations, call the Flin Flon Primary Health Care Centre at 687-1340 and your call will be directed appropriately.
